Martín Prechtel
Encyclopedia
Martín Prechtel is an author, painter, musician and educator. Among his writings are Secrets of the Talking Jaguar, an autobiographical account of his initiation as a Maya
n Shaman; Long Life, Honey in the Heart, an account of his village life in Santiago Atitlán
; Stealing Benefacio's Roses: A Mayan Epic (Formerly Titled The Toe Bone and The Tooth), an autobiographical account of how he relived an ancient Maya myth in his own life, and The Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun, a Maya myth that includes Prechtel's observations of how the Maya relate to the story. His works also include various musical recordings, paintings and an audio recording of a lecture he gives called Grief and Praise. He orchestrates "gatherings" and workshops around the country as well as curating his own school called Bolad's Kitchen.
Prechtel was raised on a Pueblo Indian reservation in New Mexico
. His mother was a Canadian Native American and his father a Swiss paleontologist. In 1970 after his first marriage ended, he traveled south through Mexico
to end up in Guatemala
. After a year of traveling through Guatemala, he found his home in a small village near Lake Atitlan inhabited by the Tzutujil (one of the numerous Maya sub-cultures). There he met a respected shaman (Nicolas Chiviliu) of the village who believed Prechtel to be the student he prayed for.
He married a Tzutujil woman and raised two sons (a third son had died). Prechtel was not a native by birth, but became one of the most important village members both spiritually and politically. When Chiviliu died, Prechtel then became acting shaman to the approximately thirty thousand people of Santiago Atitlan. Prechtel joined the Scat Mulaj (the village political body) and even rose to the position of Nabey Mam (the first chief), and among other duties was responsible for the initiating of the village's young men into adulthood.
During the Guatemalan civil war, Prechtel and his family were forced to flee for their lives. Upon returning to the U.S. Prechtel was introduced to author Robert Bly
and began contributing at Bly's Men's Movement
workshops. Bly was instrumental in getting Prechtel's writing published.
Prechtel once again resides in New Mexico, appearing around the world at different educational conferences and leading workshops designed to assist in the reconnection to the sacredness in nature and everyday life, and finding one's sense of purpose in the modern world. Colleagues include Robert Bly
, Malidoma Somé, Michael J Meade.
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
n Shaman; Long Life, Honey in the Heart, an account of his village life in Santiago Atitlán
Santiago Atitlán
Santiago Atitlán is a municipality in the Sololá department of Guatemala. The town is situated on Lago de Atitlán, which has an elevation of . The town sits on a bay of Lago Atitlan between two volcanos. Volcan San Pedro rises to west of town; Volcan Toliman rises to southeast of town. Volcan...
; Stealing Benefacio's Roses: A Mayan Epic (Formerly Titled The Toe Bone and The Tooth), an autobiographical account of how he relived an ancient Maya myth in his own life, and The Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun, a Maya myth that includes Prechtel's observations of how the Maya relate to the story. His works also include various musical recordings, paintings and an audio recording of a lecture he gives called Grief and Praise. He orchestrates "gatherings" and workshops around the country as well as curating his own school called Bolad's Kitchen.
Prechtel was raised on a Pueblo Indian reservation in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. His mother was a Canadian Native American and his father a Swiss paleontologist. In 1970 after his first marriage ended, he traveled south through Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to end up in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. After a year of traveling through Guatemala, he found his home in a small village near Lake Atitlan inhabited by the Tzutujil (one of the numerous Maya sub-cultures). There he met a respected shaman (Nicolas Chiviliu) of the village who believed Prechtel to be the student he prayed for.
He married a Tzutujil woman and raised two sons (a third son had died). Prechtel was not a native by birth, but became one of the most important village members both spiritually and politically. When Chiviliu died, Prechtel then became acting shaman to the approximately thirty thousand people of Santiago Atitlan. Prechtel joined the Scat Mulaj (the village political body) and even rose to the position of Nabey Mam (the first chief), and among other duties was responsible for the initiating of the village's young men into adulthood.
During the Guatemalan civil war, Prechtel and his family were forced to flee for their lives. Upon returning to the U.S. Prechtel was introduced to author Robert Bly
Robert Bly
Robert Bly is an American poet, author, activist and leader of the Mythopoetic Men's Movement.-Life:Bly was born in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, to Jacob and Alice Bly, who were of Norwegian ancestry. Following graduation from high school in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving...
and began contributing at Bly's Men's Movement
Men's movement
The men's movement is a social movement that includes a number of philosophies and organizations that seek to support men, change the male gender role and improve men's rights in regard to marriage, child access and victims of domestic violence...
workshops. Bly was instrumental in getting Prechtel's writing published.
Prechtel once again resides in New Mexico, appearing around the world at different educational conferences and leading workshops designed to assist in the reconnection to the sacredness in nature and everyday life, and finding one's sense of purpose in the modern world. Colleagues include Robert Bly
Robert Bly
Robert Bly is an American poet, author, activist and leader of the Mythopoetic Men's Movement.-Life:Bly was born in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, to Jacob and Alice Bly, who were of Norwegian ancestry. Following graduation from high school in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving...
, Malidoma Somé, Michael J Meade.